Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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CARTON
Background to the invention
The present invention relates to a blank for forming a packaging carton
provided with
reinforcing strut and to a packaging carton provided with a reinforcing strut
formed
from the blank.
The invention is particularly, but not exclusively, applicable to a blank
intended to be
supplied to a user who then with the aid of machinery assembles a carton from
the
blank.
Conventional cartons are typically formed by folding a blank along pre-formed
fold
lines and, where appropriate, employing an adhesive or other fixing means to
secure
adjacent panels together thus holding the final carton in the correct, closed
configuration.
Once configured, cartons are typically filled with material or goods for
transportation.
During transportation the cartons are typically stacked, either directly on
top of one
another or in alternating orientation.
However, when cartons are stacked, particularly in alternating orientation,
the side
walls of conventional cartons can be pushed apart by the weight of the carton
or
cartons sitting on top of them. This causes the carton, and in turn carton
contents, to
be squashed. The squashing of the carton weakens the carton structure making
unloading of the stacked cartons more problematic, as well as rendering the
cartons of
no further use. This waste of cartons is costly both in monetary and
environmental
terms. Additionally, the carton contents may be damaged resulting in further
cost and
wastage.
There is therefore a need for a carton with strengthened side walls such that
the
structure and shape of the carton is maintained even when additional cartons
are
stacked on top of each other.
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Summary of the Invention
An object of the present invention is to obviate or mitigate at least one of
the
aforementioned problems.
According to the first aspect of the present invention there is provided a
carton
comprising:
a base portion;
a first side portion extending from a first edge region of the base portion;
a second side portion extending from a second edge region of the base
portion;
a third side portion extending from a third edge region of the base portion;
and
a fourth side portion extending from a fourth edge region of the base
portion;
the first and second edge regions being opposite to and extending
substantially
parallel to one another, and the third and fourth edge regions being opposite
to and
extending substantially parallel to one another,
wherein the carton further comprises first and second support portions,
arranged adjacent the first and second side portions respectively, which
extend
respectively from the first and second edge regions away from the base
portion.
Preferably, the support portion comprises a base contact portion which
contacts the
base portion and extends away therefrom in a direction substantially parallel
to the
first and second side portions and has a height x, and a side portion contact
region
which extends adjacent the respective first or second side portion in a
direction
parallel to the base contact portion and has a height y, the height x being
greater than
the height y.
Further preferably, the side portion contact region contacts the respective
first or
second side portion along the full length of height y.
The side portion contact region preferably makes no direct contact with the
base
portion.
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The first and second support portions may extend from the base portion at a
position
substantially equidistant from the third and fourth edge regions.
Preferably, the first and second support portions are positioned so as to
support
respective edge regions of further cartons stacked on upper edges of the side
portions.
The base is preferably substantially planar. The first, second, third and
fourth side
portions may preferably be substantially planar. However, it will be
appreciated that
the base and/or any of the first, second, third and fourth side portions may
be of any
desired contour and may optionally include integral projects to act as feet
for the base
and/or grooves, ripples, dimples, ridges or any other desired contours on
which the
contents received within the carton may rest during containment.
Alternatively, or in
addition, the base may include contours which correspond to the contours of
the
mater\ial to be contained within the carton such that the contained material
is held in
position within the container.
Preferably the base portion is substantially rectangular.
According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a blank for a
carton,
the blank being of stiff, bendable material, the blank comprising a base
portion, a first
side portion extending from a first edge region of the base portion, a second
side
portion extending from a second edge region of the base portion, a third side
portion
extending from a third edge region of the base portion, and a fourth side
portion
extending from a fourth edge region of the base portion, wherein the first and
second
edge regions are opposite one another, and wherein the third and fourth edge
regions
are opposite one another, and wherein the blank further comprises first and
second
support portions which, when the carton is in use, extend from the first and
second
edge regions away from the base portion, adjacent the first and second side
portions
respectively.
Preferably the support portion of the blank further comprises a base contact
portion
which, when the carton is in use, contacts the base portion and extends away
therefrom in a direction substantially parallel to the first and second side
portions and
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has a height x, and a side contact region which extends adjacent the
respective first or
second side portion in a direction parallel to the base contact portion and
has a height
y, the height x being greater than the height y.
A further aspect of the present invention provides a carton formed from a
carton blank
in accordance with a second aspect of the present invention.
Brief Description of the Drawings
These and further aspects of the present invention will become apparent from
the
following description when taken in combination with the accompanying drawings
in
which:
Figure 1A is a perspective view of a carton according to a preferred
embodiment of the invention;
Figure 1B is a detail of the perspective view of Figure 1A;
Figure 2 is a cross section of a plan view the carton of Figure 1A;
Figure 3 is a plan view of a blank for a strut according to a second
embodiment of the invention.
Detailed Description of the Invention
With reference to Figure IA, a carton 10 is shown assembled ready for use. The
carton 10 comprises a flat rectangular base 12 having opposing edges 14a and
14b and
opposing edges 16a and 16b wherein edges 14a and 14b are longer than edges 16a
and
16b. A first pair of opposing rectangular side panels 18a and 18b extend from
edges
14a and 14b respectively and a second pair of opposing rectangular side panels
20a
and 20b extend from edges 16a and 16b respectively.
Side panels 18a and 18b are each provided with a strut 22a and 22b
respectively
which acts to provide reinforcement to the structure of the carton 10.
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A section of side panel 18a provided with strut 22a is shown in Figure 113. As
can be
seen, strut 22a has a planar wall 24a formed centrally which is arranged
parallel to but
apart from side panel 18a. The strut 22a is further provided with supporting
walls 26a
and 26a' which extend at an angle from elongate edges 25a and 25a'
respectively of
wall 24a. Supporting walls 26a and 26a' connect to attaching walls 28a and
28a'
respectively which are parallel to and abutting against side panel 18a to
which they
are secured. The strut 22a is arranged such that the void 30a formed between
side
panel 18a supporting walls 26a and 26a' and wall 24a is trapezoidal in cross
section.
In Figure 2 is shown a cross section plan of the carton 10. As can be seen,
struts 22a
and 22b are arranged in an interior 40 defined by side panels 18a, 18b, 20a
and 20b
and are positioned such that walls 24a and 24b are opposite to and parallel to
each
other. Struts 22a and 22b are arranged halfway along walls 18a and 18b
respectively.
In use, the carton 10 is manufactured on a production line and the assembled
carton is
created and secured together using adhesive automatically. The strut will be
assembled and secured by adhesive to the side panel of the carton during this
production line manufacture.
By providing carton 10 with strut 22, additional strength is created in the
carton
structure. This means that once the cartons are filled, either without or with
a lid (not
shown) and stacked, particularly in alternating orientations, the sides of the
cartons
will better support the weight without distorting in shape and becoming
squashed.
A plan view of a strut 122, according to a second embodiment of the invention
is
shown in Figure 3. As can be seen the strut 122 has a base contact edge 134
from
which the wall 124 extends to a height x meaning elongate edges 125a and 125a'
each
have a height x. The strut is also provided with side contact edges 136 and
136' from
which attaching walls 128 and 128' extend from to a height y meaning elongate
edges
127 and 127'each have a height y. Supporting walls 126 and 126' comprise areas
129
and 129' respectively which extend from base contact edge 134 to a height of
x.
Supporting walls 126 and 126' also comprise areas 130 and 130' which are
arranged
between 129, 129' and elongate edges 127, 127' respectively. In areas 130,
130' the
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height reduces from x where 130, 130' join 129, 129' toy where 130, 130'
adjoin
127,127' respectively.
In the embodiment shown in Figure 3, the reduction in height from x toy
results in
areas 130, 130' having a trapezoidal shape.
This shape of strut blank means that when assembled and in use, particularly
if the
carton and strut are formed of strong material, the strut is not fouled by the
assembled
carton when it is folded. This means the strut is not compromised in function
or form,
and similarly, no damage is caused to the carton.
During assembly of the carton and strut, the strut is folded along edges 125,
125', 127
and 127'; adhesive is then applied to area 132 on attaching wall 128 and
similarly on
128' (not illustrated). The strut is applied to the appropriate side panel in
the desired
position to provide a void having a trapezoidal cross section and the strut is
secured in
place by the adhesive. The carton is then folded and secured together, using
securing
means such as adhesive.
Various modifications may be made to the embodiments hereinbefore described
without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the carton may
be
provided with our without a lid. Furthermore the lid may have a bonding agent
located such as to be secured in place on the carton as desired. The carton
may be
formed having overhang panels extending from each side panel such that a lip,
or
overhang is created around the opening to the carton, this will created
further strength
in the carton structure as well as reducing the likelihood of cartons from the
content
falling out of the carton during transit. Drainage holes may be provided in
the carton
base or side panels, particularly if the materials being carried contain fluid
that may
require to drain. The cross section of the void 30 formed by the strut 22 has
been
described as trapezoidal; however, it will be clear that alternative cross
section shapes
would work equally well. For example, the strut 22 could be formed without the
wall
24a such that supporting walls 26a and 26a' were connected directly to each
other,
this would give the strut a triangular cross section. Alternatively the wall
24 could be
shaped into a curve giving the strut a semi-circular cross section.
Furthermore, the
carton base has been described as rectangular but it should be understood that
it could
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be square, or hexagonal. It may be necessary for other base shapes to include
additional struts in the carton to add further strength. Additionally, a
carton having a
rectangular may have more than one strut per side panel if further strength is
required
in a given side panel. It will also be understood that whilst the assembly of
the carton
and strut have been described as using adhesive as securing means, and
suitable
securing means could be used, including for example staples.
